3d designer, needs advice and feedback on 3rd year major project. Thanks in advance.

Ive come up with an idea for a new form of cycle security point and system. My aim is to make cycling more attractive, safer for all, more secure and simply to boost the number of people cycling to work, school, the shops or just cycling for cyclings sake. Please take time out to read my idea and let me know what you think by posting a reply. Cheers.
Hi guys and girls, this is my first post on this board but i have read it quite a bit being an avid cyclist myself. Ive decided that having had bikes stolen and damaged when left in public places isnt fair and shouldnt happen...hence why I have decided to make designing and producing a new style, attractive yet functional and cost effective secure bike locking centre my final piece in my 3rd year.
Ive pretty much concluded on a design and product for my work. Its shaped like a wave with the base of the wave being on the ground and the crest arching over toward the ground a metre or so in front. The top surface will have a rail on it with a solar powered locking mechanism and heavy duty bolt that can go through the frame. The thief would be able to move this lock but only as far as the frame tubed...the lock will have a heavy duty neoprene sleeve that will protect the unit and the bike. The base of the wave shape will be constructed from crumbed rubber taken from old bicycle tyres to improve the life cycle of the products ans tie together the product and its function. What do you think about this?

So, the rack is the lock? That's a good idea, because then cyclists won't have to carry heavy locks. But, what happens when someone loses the key or forgets the combination? Also, can you fit the wheels in the rack, too, so your wheels won't get stolen?

Will it secure the wheels in a higher crime environment.
Will it be shaped so that the bike can be safely rested, with or without a rear luggage rack.
Will it hold the bike from falling over whilst a shooper loads up 2 large rear panniers.
Does it take up much pavement space and will it pose a hazard to eg blind pedestrians.
How many such racks will fit into a typical car-parking space.
Will the lock mechanism be key, card or combination number?
Is it vandal proof.

Simple... a locker larger enough for a bike. One member on here posted that his trainstation had them, and that's the best idea I've heard of. Keeps the bike from being messed with completely. Basically, there's alot on a bike other than a frame, none of which we want stolen or messed with.

I also don't see what the power is used for. Do you have to provide your own lock to use with this bar, or is it a combination? Do you choose your own combination everytime you lock it up?

Although, I can see you are doing a school project which are often less practical and more aesthetic than reality calls for.

Simple... a locker larger enough for a bike. One member on here posted that his trainstation had them, and that's the best idea I've heard of. Keeps the bike from being messed with completely. Basically, there's alot on a bike other than a frame, none of which we want stolen or messed with.

I also don't see what the power is used for. Do you have to provide your own lock to use with this bar, or is it a combination? Do you choose your own combination everytime you lock it up?

Although, I can see you are doing a school project which are often less practical and more aesthetic than reality calls for.

The main bus terminal in my city has a few fully-enclosed bike lockers. They're roughly wedge-shaped inside and you put the bike in rear-first. It is enclosed on all sides and provides protection from thieves, vandals and weather.

Now the question is, how many of these lockers can you fit into a certain space, while keeping construction cheap, simple, modular, and environmentally friendly?

I like the Bike Tree: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b0GRFV355g . Except, it doesn't protect against someone with a ladder. Also, these things require maintenance - you don't want your bike stuck at the top of that thing because your card is suddenly not working...

wow thanks for all of the replies, really more than I was hoping for so thanks a lot. The solar element is so that the lock doesnt require mains power. The locking system consists of a small motor and cog that moves a heavy duty bolt (coated in neoprene to protect the bikes) through any part of the frame. This allows the thief to perhaps move the lock but only as far as the frame tubes. the bolt will also have a unit to clamp around a tube if the user wishes, this will allow the user to put pressure onto the bike and wheels in a downward direction. The wheels will be held in aluminium grooves that can flex to their shape, this doesnt add any strength to the design but does help to prevent movement of the wheels and would eliminate the chances of a thief taking your wheels as they would not be able to move them without the frame being moved upwards.

The issue with forgetting the combination or key would be soved by supplying a card that is swiped, it has a unique code that locks and unlocks the unit. If this was lost then you could enter personal information such as security questions on the interactive screen in order to release the bike. I want cyclists to get away from having to carry around bulky locks.

I have tested prototypes and it works, it is a university project and yes I want it to look nice but I think that good looks can work with functionality. I also want to help make this a sustainable product by sourcing materials, where possible, from ex-cycle sources such as tubesm rubber from tyres etc.

Btw the bike tree looks great but its a bit poor on the reliability front...i wouldnt want my giant tcr hanging up there for a few days before someone came out to fix it!

Bikes: a mountain bike with a cargo box on the back and aero bars on the front. an old well-worn dahon folding bike

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Jonb,

I don't understand your description 100%, but it does sound like it's intended to serve all of the same functions as fully-enclosed bike lockers. Are there any advantages you can think of, relative to enclosed bike lockers? Fingerprint or security question technology could be a convenient way to replace keys in either case, though.

Quote:

My aim is to make cycling more attractive, safer for all, more secure and simply to boost the number of people cycling to work, school, the shops

What I wish my bike had to make it more secure/convenient is a locking storage compartment, removable only when it's unlocked, where i could keep a tire tube, multitool, and helmet safe while I'm not riding.

Yes Im looking at that option too as I would love to be able to leave a pair of old trainers (sneakers) somewhere so I dont have to carry a bag with them in. The simple reasons in my opinion and the opinion of the local authority for I am designing these for (the new edinburgh forthside devlopment in scotland) the lockers simply dont look good. Having metal lockers dotted around a historical city isnt what they want, my proposal looks good and apart from being open to the elements is arguably as secure.

Bikes: a mountain bike with a cargo box on the back and aero bars on the front. an old well-worn dahon folding bike

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yeah, I can see why metal lockers would be considered by a lot of people to be unsightly, although they might be prettier than your average automobile parking area. I think the weather protection thing is important, but in your design that could be solved by putting a structure like this over the lock thingy.

I'm still not understanding why this needs power. It seems simpler and more reliable to use purely mechanical locking mechanisms. Can you post some kind of picture or diagram?

I too think that a locker would be a better idea. It is true that most lockers available are not the most beautiful structures, so perhaps you could design something that is just as functional but looks better.

Cost will always be a big consideration on the part of the organizations doing the purchasing, so you need to take that into consideration. I've seen that many places will spend extra for "art" but the cost and maintenance of powered mechanisms may make them balk.
Craig

Yes, I agree: all bike lockers I've seen have been ugly. They are great functionally but they are ugly boring grey boxes! However, functionally they are probably still superior to the suggested design, since nobody can mess with your ride.

And I agree with CBBaron - I don't see the point of needing solar power. Use muscular power. At least make sure it can be used as a back-up solution in case the motor fails for some reason.

All comments noted : I am looking at ways of making a clamp, manual system work without having to carry a lock with you. That was the need for the power, so it could lock and unlock without the cyclist having to carry their own lock with them. The unit will need some power but no motor so that would do away with the locking mechanism but Im thinking of the solar panels (very very cheap and work from light, not sunlight necessarily so even on a cloudy day they would work fine) and a battery storage linked to an electro magnet. The magnet would act as the lock, when engaged it wouldnt come loose until the users card is swiped.

Told my tutor of my latest ideas and his response was "why not make it artistic out of polished stainless steel?" I said "because it will scratch anything that touches it, peoples ride bikes and have bought them, they dont want them to get damaged" his response was "not everyone is like you, people dont generally care about their bikes..they are just a means of transport, a scratch wont matter"...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME PROVE HIM WRONG BY SHOWING YOUR OPINIONS. Thanks!

Tell your tutor that scratches become spots for rust. Rust ruins the frames over time and the frame is the most expensive part of a bike.

You may want to look into a soft plastic or hard rubber coating on the tube and lock. Neoprene may not last long with lots of use.

My only other suggestion is make the lock need power to unlock. If anything happens to the power supply the bike stays securely locked. Another benefit is that you use less power overall since your not using power while locked or not in use. This should also allow the electro magnet to last longer since it is not powered all the time.

Told my tutor of my latest ideas and his response was "why not make it artistic out of polished stainless steel?" I said "because it will scratch anything that touches it, peoples ride bikes and have bought them, they dont want them to get damaged" his response was "not everyone is like you, people dont generally care about their bikes..they are just a means of transport, a scratch wont matter"...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME PROVE HIM WRONG BY SHOWING YOUR OPINIONS. Thanks!

The question is - what are the requirements, do they include cost, maintenance, safety of the user's equipment, or that it looks pretty? The local bus and subway system has the fully enclosed bike lockers at some stations and it doesn't bother me that they are ugly. But I like functional (I also let my wife buy all my ties - I call it skill-based optimization). Seriously, stainless steel is not cheap, and how difficult is it to keep clean and free of grafitti? (It's really hard to "tag" an airliner!) In an urban environment, it will get "tagged" and the usual response is to paint it over, which defeats using anything with a natural finish in the first place. Transit authorities are always short on cash, so anything spent to promote bike commuting needs to go far. In the real world, cost matters.

I would select materials for their durability and cost and see if you can accomplish the visual feel your instructor wants by how the system is shaped or it's overal placement and integration into a transit station. In my view, an elegant design that is also economic and functional trumps one made from an exotic material "just because".

The requirements from gregorshore, the developers are that it must be attractive and in keeping with the area (eg/ a new development by the shore so ive taken that as modern with an element of nature and water as the place the bike storage area will be located is currently being reclaimed from its former use as a harbour, its being filled in now before development), also they want it to link with the users so have a sense of activity or bicycles or movement. It must also be reasonably resistant to tagging although this area is not known for graffitti etc. Cost is not an element as the developers have £2bn from the european union for this project. I dont agree with the reflective, polished bare metal idea as it will not stay like that due to the location being near salt water and in an exposed location. I also think that contrary to my tutors ideas, it wouldnt be great to damage peoples belongings just because the piece looked good, i think it can look good and not damage the bikes.

I think a cover, whether it's like a carport, looks like a palm tree, or covered on 1 or 2 sides, would be a definate plus. If the bikes are all in the same "area" (not separate lockers) having the sides open and in view will prevent someone from ducking into the area, or around the corner and messing with bikes. If it's open and in plain site, hopefully they will be deterred.

I REALLY like how you would hold the frame down, thus stopping the wheels from being stolen.... excellent idea. A simple ratcheting pull down bar would be good. The open could tighten it as much as THEY wished. Some one with a carbon bike may not want the rack clamping down like a bear. Think something along the lines of roller coaster locking systems. Some bike rear wheels have horizontal drop outs facing backwards.... not sure if the force down on the bike would prevent them from being stolen.... but it would definatly be difficult. Would involve deflating tires to get some play to move the wheel forward to release chain. Also, the "channel" that the tires sits in should drain so water doesn't just collect there. You don't want wet tires on a roadie on slicks, or wet areas around the rack for people to slip on... and a water puddle usually ends up being a puddle crap/trash/dirt once it dries.

If it's stainless, but nothing is sharp or protruding... it won't be able to scratch the frame. Not sure about stainless finish.... but I was thinking if it's brushed aluminum, then graffiti, wear, and scratches could be hit with a sander to renew the finish. No paint needed Everything thinks of covering vandalism.... when my neighbors fences got tagged, most of them found a close brown paint and painted them.... mostly looking pretty ugly and not matching. One neighbor took a sander to the fence... was done in half the time, and later, after the wood weathered... you couldn't tell it had ever been done.